Tuesday, October 18 2005 20:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Gangster turned MLA Arun Gawli, who testified before the police today in the Preeti Jain conspiracy case, may find himself in a tight spot with police claiming that they have evidence showing that Gawli was aware of the plot to kill film producer Madhur Bhandarkar, from day one.

Police suspect that the Gawli's tipping off the plot was just a ploy to dissociate himself from the case, as evidence shows that he was in contact with the two accused in the case, starlet Preeti Jain and Naresh Pardesi during the period when the plot was allegedly hatched.

Gawli last month tipped the police about the plot to murder Bhandarkar, allegedly hatched by his former aide Naresh Pardesi with Jain, that eventually led to their arrests.

By tipping policemen about the conspiracy the gangster turned politican had portrayed himself as a peace-loving person ready to help the policemen until Pardesi revealed during a scientific test performed on him that Gawli allegedly accepted money from the film producer to frame Jain, police sources said.

Both Gawli and Bhandarkar have denied the information that came during the scientific tests.

However, police officials told sources that their suspicion that Gawli could be party to the conspiracy was based on evidences.

Meanwhile, Gawli who appeared before ACP Manasi Mohite in central Mumbai, was being questioned till late in the afternoon.

Commenting on the evidence before police, a senior police official said that first was the letter issued by Gawli two months ago dismissing Pardesi as 'shakha pramukh' (branch chief) of Worli unit of Gawli's outfit, Akhil Bharatiya Sena, and second the records of conversations between Gawli, Pardesi and Jain.

"The letter appears to have been issued recently putting old date, and the reasons for Pardesi's dismissal appear to be flimsy," a senior police official said.

According to the letter, Gawli dismissed Pardesi since he was found sporting long hair, and was often found smoking in the ABS `shakha' office.

Officials said that records of mobile phones used by Gawli, Pardesi and Jain during the period when the alleged plot was hatched has shown that the trio was in regular touch with each other.

"This is contrary to Gawli's claim that he came to know about the plot from his supporters," the police official said. "Gawli was very much aware of the developments taking place between Pardesi and Jain, but reasons best known to him developed a cold feet and reported the matter to police," the official added.

According to police sources, Gawli was being questioned a length on each and every aspect of the evidence that has come before them. "He may even be called again if the questioning is not satisfactorily completed," sources said.

During her stay in jail custody, accused Preeti Jain had alleged that the police had forced her to turn approver in the case since they wanted to 'fix' Gawli in the conspiracy case.